Portable sectional pier



Aug. 9, 1960 s. F. KARST PORTABLE SECTIONAL PIER INVENTOR 32 8.18% r5 2 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY Filed Nov. 15, 1957 Aug. 9, 1960 s. F. KARST PORTABLE SECTIONAL PIER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 15 1957 Tru INVENTOR 8!? [12 7- a Z ATTORNEYS Aug. 9, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 15, 1957 Aug. 9, 1960 s. F. KARST PORTABLE SECTIONAL PIER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 15, 1957 BY y I ATTORNEYS United States Patent 6 2,948,121 PORTABLE SECTIONAL PIER Sylvester Frank Karst, 105 Mill St., Oshkosh, Wis.

Filed Nov. 15, 1957, Ser. No. 696,741

1 Claim. (Cl. 61-48) The present invention relates to portable sectional piers, and more particularly to such devices combined with means for installing and removing the pier sections.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a portable pier formed of a plurality of individually complete' sections combined with means for installing and removing each section individually.

Another object of the invention is to provide a portable sectional pier of the class described above in which each section includes a pier support hinged to one end thereof and provide with means to vertically adjust the support with relation to the pier.

A further object of the invention is to provide a portable sectional pier in which the sections are connected in end-to-end relation with a separable pivot means.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a portable sectional pier of the class described above a portable crane combined therewith for installing and removing the outermost section from a point next adjacent to the outermost section.

Another object of the invention is to provide a portable sectional pier of the class described above which is inexpensive to manufacture, simple to install and remove, and which will provide a sturdy pier structure for normal use.

Other objects and advantages-will become apparent in the following specification when considered in the light ofthe attached drawings, in which:

\Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention illustrating one of the pier sections in semi-installed position.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the invention with parts broken away for clarity.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-section taken substantially along the lines 3-3 ofFigures 2 and 4, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical cross-section taken along the line 44 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, with parts broken away for clarity.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary transverse cross-section taken along the line 55 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of a-detail ofthe invention.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail vertical section of another detail of the invention, taken along the line 7-7 of Figure 8, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 8 is a horizontal fragmentary cross-section taken along the line 8-8 of Figure 7, lookingin the direction of the arrows;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary vertical cross-section taken along the line 9--9 of Figure 3, lookingin the direction of the arrows.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary side elevation ofthe height adjustment mechanism.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary front. elevation of the mechanism illustrated in Figure 10.

Figure 12 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross.-

2,948,121 Patented Aug. 9, 1960 2. section taken along the line 12-12 of Figure 11, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary horizontal cross-section taken along the line 13-13 of Figure 12, looking in the direction-of the arrows.

Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view of one of the supporting feet.

Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view of one of the leg sections.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures, the reference numeral 20 indicates generally a portable sectional pier constructed in accordance with the invention.

The pier 20 includes a foundation block 21 cast in situ along the shore of a body of water into which the pier 20 extends. A pair of posts 22 and 23 extend upwardly in spaced parallel relation from the block 21, and each havelaterally extending spaced apart parallel plates 24 and 25, respectively, secured to the upper ends thereof.

A shaft 26 extends transversely through each set of plates 24 and 25 in vertically spaced parallel relation to the block 21 and has opposite end portions 27 and 28 extending beyond thesets of plates 24 and 25, respectively.

A pin 29 extends transversely between the plates 24 and 25 of each set in forwardly spaced horizontal relation to the shaft 26.

A pier section, generally indicated at 30, comprises a pair of spaced parallel stringers 31 anda center stringer 32-ar ranged between thestringers 31 in equispaced parallelrelation, A plurality of floorboards 33 extend between the stringers- 31 in transverse relation thereto and are secured to the stringers 31 and the center stringer 32 by means of securing elements 34:

Afioor board 35 is hingedly secured to thefioor board 33 adjacent one'end-of the stringers 31 and is adapted to befolded over onto the adjacentfioor board 33 during installation and removal of the pier section 30. A fioor board 36-is hingedly secured to the floor board33 at the opposite end'of the stringers 31 and is adapted to be swung into overlying relation to the adjacent floor board 33 in much the same manner as the floor board 35.

The stringers 31 have awidth equal to the space between each set of plates 24 and 25, respectively, and have their inner ends provided with plates37 on opposite side faces thereof projecting beyond the inner ends of the stringers 31 and secured thereto by means of securing elements 38.

Each of the plates 37 is provided with a notch 39 in the outer ends thereof adapted to overlie and encompass the-shaft 26. A second arcuate notch 40 opens through the end of the plate 37 and is arranged concentrically with the notch 39 to receive the pin 29 so as to lock the.

plate 37 to the shaft 26 and the pin 29.

The ends of the stringers 31 opposite the plates 37 are provided with opposed plates 41 secured thereto on opposite sides thereof by securing elements 42. A shaft 26 extends transversely of the stringers 31 extending through the plates41, as is-best seen in Figure 1.

A pin 29 extends through each of the plates 41 in forwardly spaced parallel relation to the shaft 26 and is secured thereto at the opposite ends thereof by means of welding or the like. The plates 37 are inwardly offset at 37 to permit the plates 37 to engage between the plates 41 and the plates 24 and 25, as best illustrated in Figure 8.

Each of the pier sections 30 are provided with plates 41 and shafts 26 at their outer ends and with plates 37 at their inner ends.

A pipe T 43-is journalled'to the opposite ends of each of the shafts 26 and is provided with a set screw 44extending into the straight section of'the T 43.1 A. pipe '45 3 is slidably engaged in each of the Ts 43 perpendicularly to the shafts 26, and the T 43 is locked in adjusted position on the pipe 45 by set screws 44. Tubular feet 46 are threadedly'secured to the lower end of each of the pipes 45 and have a spike 47 depending therefrom. A pair of pipes 45 at opposite ends of each of the'shafts' 26' are connected together by crossed braces 48 having their opposite ends welded to the pipes 45 in vertically spaced relation and being welded together at 49, their point of crossing.

A pipe nipple 45a of suitable length is illustrated in Figure 15 attached to the lower end of pipe 45 by means of a coupling 46a. By using nipples 45a of the desired length and adjusting the feet 46 thereon by their treads any pipe 45 can be varied in length as needed.

A crane, generally indicated at 50, consists of a trans verse base rod 51, a U-shaped foot 52 arranged at each end of the rod 51 and having their bights welded thereto, and a saddle bar 53 extending transversely of each of the feet 52 adjacent the ends thereof opposite the rod 51. The lower ends of the feet 52 are adapted to engage over opposite end portions of the shafts 26 with the saddles 53 in engagement with the shaft 26 so as to support the rod 51 in parallel spaced relation above the pier section 30 adjacent one end thereof.

A mast 54 is welded to the center of the rod 51 and extends perpendicularly therefrom. A pair of brace rods 55 are welded at their lower ends to the outer ends of the rod 51, and at their upper ends to the mast 54 at a point spaced substantially from the rod 51. The mast 54 is provided at its upper end with a fork 56 having a pulley 57 journalled therein.

A tubular bar 58 is arranged above the pier section 30 at an angle to the horizontal and overlying the stringer 32. The tubular bar 58 is provided with a pair of divergent brackets 59 and 60 welded to one end thereof, as shown in Figures 1, and 6.

The brackets 59 and 60 extend at an angle to the axis of the bar 58 and are each provided with an elongated slot 61 formed in the free ends thereof and having one side thereof open at its central portion to provide a pair of opposing hooks 62 and 63. The brackets 59 and 60 are adapted to be engaged over the shaft 26 with either the hook 62 or the hook 63 securing the brackets 59 and 60 to the shaft 26, as shown in Figure 6.

A boom 64 is telescopically mounted in the tubular rod 58 and is arranged for sliding movement therein. The outer end of the boom 64 is provided with a fork 65 pivotally secured to the mast 54 at a point spaced below the fork 56.

A winch 66 is mounted on the tubular bar 58 and is provided with a hand crank 67 by means of which a drum 68 is rotated to wind a cable 69 thereabout. The cable 69 is trained over the pulley 57 and is detachably secured to the shaft 26 centrally thereof.

The Ts 43 are each provided with an independent lifting mechanism 70 for raising or lowering the T 43 on the pipe 45. The lifting mechanism 70 includes a plurality of cam plates 71 having openings 72 extending therethrough and through which the pipe 45 extends. The openings 72 are somewhat larger than the pipe 45 to permit the cam plates 71 to tilt, as illustrated in Figure 12. A coil spring 73 engages about the pipe 45 extending between the cam plates 71 and the T 43. The cam plates 71 are provided with openings 74 spaced from the openings 72, and a link 75 loosely engages therethrough and is supported therein in depending relation by a headed rivet 76 engaging the upper surface of the upper cam plate 71.

A lever 77 having a handle 78 is pivotally mounted between a pair of ears 79 formed on the T 43. A pivot pin 80 secures the lower end of the link 75 to the lever 77 so that movement of the lever 77 on the ears 79 will move the link 75. j

To raise the T 43 with respect to the pipe 45, the lever 4 77 is raised to a horizontal position, spring 73 will raise the cam plates 71 to engage the rivet 76. The set screw 44 is then released and by pushing down on lever 77 the T 43 is raised on pipe 45 whereupon set screw 44 is retightcned.

To lower the T 43 on the pipe 45, set screw 44 is first released and then lever 77 is moved to horizontal lowering the T 43.

In the use and operation of the invention, the innermost pier section 30 is positioned with the stringers 31 in upstanding position with the notch 39 in the plates 37 engaged over the shafts 26, as shown in the dotted line position in Figure 7. The outer end of the pier section 30 is then lowered so that the pin 29 is encompassed by the slot 40, locking the plate 37 to the shaft 26 against vertical or horizontal movement.

The feet 46 on the lower end of the legs 45 are engaged against the bottom of the stream in which the pier 20* is positioned and the stringers 31 are levelled by adjusting the Ts 43 vertically on the legs 45 after which the set screws 44 are tightened to complete the installation of the section.

The crane 50 is then engaged with the shaft 26 on the block 21, and the shaft 26 on the innermost pier section 30 with the boom 64 fully retracted into the tubular bar 58, and with the cable 69' wound fully in on the drum 68. A second pier section 30 is then engaged over the shaft 26 on the outer end of the first pier section 30, again as shown in Figure 7, and the cable 69 is attached to the center point of the shaft 26 on the outer end of the second pier section 30 whereupon the second pier section 30 is lowered by paying out the cable 69 until the stringers 31 are level.

The legs 45 being journalled on the shaft 26 will swing to a vertical position, and after the pier section 30 is levelled, can be adjusted for height, as described above. The set screws 44 are then tightened supporting the second pier section 30 in level relation. Additional pier sections 30 may be added as required with the legs 45 being made of sufiicient length to reach the bottom.

It will be noted that the hook 62 will be engagement with the shaft 26 whenever a load is carried by the crane 50, and the hook 63 will engage the shaft 26 when the load is removed from the crane 50. Obviously, the crane 58 can be moved from section to section as the construction of the pier advances.

In removing the pier 20 at the beginning of the winter season, or prior to severe storms, floods, or the like, the crane 50 is utilized in a reverse manner to lift the sections 30 to a position where they can be uncoupled from the shaft 26 of the preceding section 30.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that numerous structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed:

A sectional portable pier including a plurality of sections pivotally secured together in end-to-end relation with each of said sections comprising a pair of spaced parallel stringers, a plurality of transverse floor boards secured to said stringers, a pair of spaced parallel legs for each section, a first pair of plates secured to opposite sides of one end of each stringer at one end of each section with said plates projecting beyond the ends of said stringers, a second pair of plates secured to opposite sides of the other end of each stringer at the other end of each section with said pairs of plates projecting beyond the other ends of said stringers, a shaft extending transversely of one end of said section extending through and supported in said first pairs of plates at said one end of said section, said shaft extending beyond said first pair of plates, means adjustably securing the extending ends of said shaft to the adjacent pair of legs, a lock pin parallel to said shaft extending across and supported in each of said first pair of plates with said shaft positioned between said locking pins and said stringers, and means on said second pairs of plates at the other end of each section for pivotally engaging the shaft of and releasably locking to the locking pin of the next adjacent section, said last named means including a horizontal slot formed in said second pair of plates opening through the end thereof opposite said stringers and pivotally engaging said shaft and a semi-circular slot formed in said second pair of plates opening through the end thereof opposite said stringers below said horizontal slot, said last named slot slidably engaging said locking pin on pivotal movement of one section with respect to the other from a vertical position to a horizontal position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,358,951 Helmich Nov. 16, 1920 1,617,865 Richardson Feb. 15, 1927 2,564,123 Melges et a1 Aug. 14, 1951 2,571,337 Burnham Oct. 16, 1951 2,596,854 Jack et a1. May 13, 1952 2,618,124 Holsten Nov. 18, 1952 2,660,271 Hupp Nov. 24, 1953 2,687,617 Newell Aug. 31, 1954 OTHER REFERENCES Nolting: German application Serial No. N5547VI/SC, Oct. 11, 1956. 

